Combining global impact with deep local roots, Sicona’s sweep at the 2025 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards positions the innovator as one of the region’s most significant success stories. Photo: Trent Hilaire/Hill to Air.
A local sustainability success story continued a global winning streak and an Illawarra institution pulled a hat trick at the 2025 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards.
Sicona Battery Technologies took out the top gong as Business of the Year, as well as Excellence in International Business, while Symbio Wildlife Park claimed three trophies at the region’s premier business awards night.
It was the third consecutive year Sicona claimed International Business of the Year, placing them in the Hall of Fame.
The win comes after Sicona was named in Forbes Asia’s 100 To Watch and announced a transformational licensing partnership with Himadri to scale the company’s technology production in India as it progresses plans for its first major development in Australia.
Sicona CEO Christiaan Jordaan was in India putting together next steps for a gigafactory, but co-founder and CTO Andrew Minett accepted the award, heaping praise on its engineers, scientists, operators and staff, as well as numerous businesses in the room.
“Everybody in this room that backs start-ups, backs companies, businesses out of the Illawarra … everybody that does stuff for companies like us, born in the Illawarra, scaling globally — this is recognition of what companies like us, companies like all of you, can do in the Illawarra. We’re all special,” he said.
“Everyone in this room is what the Illawarra is about, and now is the time for the Illawarra to show the world what we can do.”
Born out of research at the University of Wollongong, Sicona Battery Technologies is turning Wollongong into a powerhouse of the global energy transition.
With demand for energy storage set to soar, the company is developing next-generation battery materials that make lithium-ion batteries safer, lighter, and longer-lasting, positioning the Illawarra on the world map for advanced manufacturing and clean technology innovation.
“We started Sicona in Wollongong with a crazy idea that a small team here could create battery technology that would compete on the world stage. Tonight, to be recognised as Business of the Year, is proof that big ideas can come from Wollongong,” Dr Minett said.
John and Margaret Radnidge were custodians of Symbio Wildlife Park before their son, 2025 Outstanding Business Leader Matt Radnidge, took over.
More than 600 of the region’s business leaders gathered at the WIN Entertainment Centre for the awards, which is now in its 31st year.
The evening recognised winners across 18 categories, with awards spanning innovation, sustainability, leadership and community impact. Winners will progress to represent the region at the prestigious NSW Business Awards later this year.
No stranger to the awards circuit itself, Symbio Wildlife Park won Outstanding Visitor Experience and Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, while CEO Matthew Radnidge was named Outstanding Business Leader. The business celebrates 50(ish) years this year.
Green Gravity and Housing Trust both claimed two awards each, while newcomer to the scene Dharawal Distilling Co. claimed Outstanding New Business.
PhysioHealth Corrimal won Excellence in Innovation, capping off a big year of awards that included a major sweep at the 2025 Illawarra Women in Business (IWIB) Awards.
The IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards is billed as the region’s most prestigious recognition of business success, showcasing the innovation, resilience and leadership that underpin the region’s economy.
Business Illawarra executive director Coralie McCarthy said the awards highlighted the strength and determination of the business community at a time when many were under pressure.
“Businesses across the Illawarra are doing it tough. Costs are rising, red tape is biting and confidence in some sectors is at its lowest point in years. That makes tonight more important,” she said.
“Taking the time to recognise hard work and achievement sends a powerful message: that resilience and innovation are alive in our region, and that business will remain at the heart of our recovery.”
The winners of the 2025 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards were:
- Excellence in Tech — Green Gravity
- Outstanding Employee — Tiarna Snow, Housing Trust
- Outstanding Young Business Leader — Aaron Mulhall, Specialised Energy Solutions
- Outstanding Business Leader — Matthew Radnidge, Symbio Wildlife Park
- Excellence in International Business — Sicona Battery Technologies
- Excellence in Workplace Culture — Housing Trust
- Excellence in Innovation — PhysioHealth Corrimal
- Excellence in Sustainability — Green Gravity
- Outstanding Community Organisation — Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
- Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion — The Flagstaff Group
- Outstanding New Business — Dharawal Distilling Co.
- Excellence in Micro Business — Supercalla Private Properties
- Excellence in Small Business — Tiny Tins
- Excellence in Large Business — Joint Vision Orthopaedic Group
- Outstanding Local Chamber — Shoalhaven Business Chamber
- Outstanding Visitor Experience — Symbio Wildlife Park
- Excellence in Sustainable Tourism — Symbio Wildlife Park
- Business of the Year — Sicona Battery Technologies.
